And she says the "heart" of schools - the people who help students deal with personal issues guide them academically - are school counselors.

"Counselors provide so much more than just advice on which classes to take," said Jacobsen, Davis School District counseling and guidance director.

"They establish a good school climate and help students with everything from issues at home to how to deal with bullying."

School counselors - Jacobsen supervises 130 of them - are part of a comprehensive guidance and counseling model that Utah adopted nearly 15 years ago. Among other duties, they participate in a Student Education Occupation Plan (SEOP) with every student and parent.

"Counselors sit down with students and celebrate what the students are doing," she said.

"Then they talk about their interests and discuss careers that would be most rewarding. The counselor discusses classes and options that would fit into those goals."

Guidance Curriculum is another area counselors address.

"They go into classrooms and teach things like how to handle bullying, how to be a good friend and how to take care of yourself," said Jacobsen.

Then they provide what are called "responsive services." This means they work with students on an individual basis, addressing personal issues or problems at home.

They also dedicate a portion of their time to "system support," which includes professional development, administering tests and sitting on school committees.

Linda Holmes, a counselor at Northridge High School in Layton, said though the job can be emotional at times, it's rewarding when students succeed.

"We can't solve all their problems, but if we can help students focus on the things they can control and have them graduate and realize the good things that are happening in their lives, then we've accomplished a lot," said Holmes, who has been in education for 23 years and a school counselor for seven.

Holmes said the role of school counselors has changed over the years, and she encourages parents to take advantage of their services.

"It's essential that parents be involved in the SEOP process. There are so many options available to students, and we want to help them be more prepared for when they leave home."

tdeans@sltrib.com

Most memorable teacher

Most people have at least one teacher who stands out in their memories. It could be the teacher who used love and understanding to encourage students, or the teacher who used tough love and consequences in the classroom.

Interested to know what impact teachers have had on local leaders?

Each week the Class Act page will feature one community leader's memory of a favorite teacher.

This week's Most Memorable Teacher quote comes from Christine Kearl, education deputy for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. She has fond memories of first-grade teacher Adele Schaub, who taught at the Cache County's now-closed Benson Elementary.

"I loved Mrs. Schaub for many reasons, one being that she taught me how to read," said Kearl. "I also loved her because she taught me to love myself. She made comments about my hair being 'as shiny as a new penny,' and gave me confidence about myself when I felt insecure."